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Cartographer salary
Average cartographer salary
$62,172
Understanding Cartographer Salaries
Cartographers play a vital role in creating maps that are essential for navigation, urban planning, and environmental studies. The average salary for a cartographer is $62,172 annually, or approximately $30 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on location, experience, and industry. For instance, cartographers in states like California and New York often earn higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living adjustments.
In addition to geographical factors, the industry also influences earnings. Cartographers working in government roles or specialized sectors, such as environmental consulting, may find higher salaries compared to those in traditional mapping positions. Understanding these elements can aid job seekers in making informed career decisions.
Salary Trends by State
When examining salaries by state, research indicates opportunities in metropolitan areas generally offer competitive pay. For aspiring cartographers, considering a location with a high demand for geographic information systems (GIS) professionals can lead to enhanced job prospects and increased income potential.
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Where can a Cartographer earn more?
Cartographer salary estimates from across the web
Average cartographer salary by state
The average cartographer salary in Maine, New York, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cartographer salary states are Hawaii, Wyoming, and Oregon.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cartographers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $80,044 | $38.48 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $74,272 | $35.71 |
| 3 | Missouri | $72,651 | $34.93 |
| 4 | Maine | $83,751 | $40.26 |
| 5 | New York | $80,247 | $38.58 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $73,957 | $35.56 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $72,715 | $34.96 |
| 8 | California | $78,167 | $37.58 |
| 9 | Indiana | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $71,450 | $34.35 |
| 11 | Virginia | $73,111 | $35.15 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $66,771 | $32.10 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $71,949 | $34.59 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $73,019 | $35.11 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $73,117 | $35.15 |
| 16 | Idaho | $68,073 | $32.73 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $71,647 | $34.45 |
| 18 | Utah | $70,982 | $34.13 |
| 19 | Kansas | $66,136 | $31.80 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $73,140 | $35.16 |
| 21 | Alaska | $70,071 | $33.69 |
| 22 | Vermont | $71,837 | $34.54 |
| 23 | Illinois | $69,069 | $33.21 |
| 24 | Iowa | $66,917 | $32.17 |
| 25 | Delaware | $70,729 | $34.00 |
| 26 | Ohio | $66,114 | $31.79 |
| 27 | Michigan | $66,679 | $32.06 |
| 28 | Arizona | $65,111 | $31.30 |
| 29 | Alabama | $64,483 | $31.00 |
| 30 | Colorado | $64,736 | $31.12 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $69,638 | $33.48 |
| 32 | Texas | $63,990 | $30.76 |
| 33 | Washington | $63,645 | $30.60 |
| 34 | Maryland | $69,913 | $33.61 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $61,889 | $29.75 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $60,727 | $29.20 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $63,353 | $30.46 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $62,417 | $30.01 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $63,290 | $30.43 |
| 40 | Nevada | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $60,394 | $29.04 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $61,326 | $29.48 |
| 43 | Georgia | $49,629 | $23.86 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $60,519 | $29.10 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $47,774 | $22.97 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $59,084 | $28.41 |
| 47 | Montana | $57,966 | $27.87 |
| 48 | Florida | $48,624 | $23.38 |
| 49 | Oregon | $51,614 | $24.81 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $54,853 | $26.37 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $53,939 | $25.93 |
Highest paying cities for cartographers
The highest-paying cities for cartographers are San Francisco, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $80,026 | $38.47 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,687 | $35.91 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $74,221 | $35.68 |
| 4 | Saint Louis, MO | $73,380 | $35.28 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $73,289 | $35.24 |
| 6 | College Park, MD | $69,758 | $33.54 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $69,648 | $33.48 |
| 8 | Springfield, IL | $67,847 | $32.62 |
| 9 | Lakewood, CO | $64,705 | $31.11 |
| 10 | Huntsville, AL | $64,555 | $31.04 |
| 11 | Olympia, WA | $64,284 | $30.91 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $64,219 | $30.87 |
| 13 | Memphis, TN | $61,075 | $29.36 |
| 14 | Alpharetta, GA | $49,639 | $23.86 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,817 | $22.99 |
Cartographer salary details
A cartographer's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $90,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cartographer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $62,172 | $5,181 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying cartographer jobs
The highest paying types of cartographers are photogrammetrist, mapper, and digital cartographer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compiler | $53,597 | $4,466 | $25.77 | 465 |
Top companies hiring cartographers now:
Which companies pay cartographers the most?
Cartographer salaries at Google and Esri are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cartographer salary at companies like Central Intelligence Agency and Yes Virginia are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $125,233 | $60.21 | |
| 2 | Esri | $81,621 | $39.24 |
| 3 | Central Intelligence Agency | $78,398 | $37.69 |
| 4 | Yes Virginia | $76,309 | $36.69 |
| 5 | Telenav | $74,638 | $35.88 |
| 6 | AVANGRID | $70,864 | $34.07 |
| 7 | Intellisoft Technologies | $70,068 | $33.69 |
| 8 | ICONMA | $68,699 | $33.03 |
| 9 | American Wind Energy Association | $65,596 | $31.54 |
| 10 | Atlantic Services Group | $64,607 | $31.06 |
| 11 | Leidos | $62,110 | $29.86 |
| 12 | Peraton | $61,743 | $29.68 |
| 13 | CIA Inc | $61,695 | $29.66 |
| 14 | The Davey Tree Expert Company | $61,618 | $29.62 |
| 15 | Natural Resources Conservation Service | $60,957 | $29.31 |
| 16 | BAE Systems | $60,435 | $29.06 |
| 17 | MAPC | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| 18 | ManTech | $58,711 | $28.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cartographer salary by industry
The average cartographer salary varies across industries:
- The average cartographer salary in the utilities industry is $72,064, the highest of any industry.
- The average cartographer salary in the finance industry is $67,133.
- Cartographers in the technology industry earn an average salary of $62,914, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for cartographers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $72,064 | $34.65 |
| 2 | Professional | $67,133 | $32.28 |
| 3 | Government | $63,881 | $30.71 |
| 4 | Technology | $62,914 | $30.25 |
High paying cartographer jobs
Cartographer salary trends
The average cartographer salary has risen by $11,283 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cartographer earned $50,889 annually, but today, they earn $62,172 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for cartographers over the last decade.
Compare cartographer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cartographer salary over time
Compare cartographer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cartographer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,200 | $29.89 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $59,500 | $28.62 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $58,600 | $28.16 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $58,200 | $27.97 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $57,100 | $27.43 | +1.4% |
Recently added cartographer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perspecta | Cartographer | McLean, VA | 06/29/2025 | $86,000 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Cartographer | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $142,488 |
| Uintah County Ut | Cartographer | Vernal, UT | 06/21/2025 | $49,003 |
| Perspecta | Cartographer | McLean, VA | 05/28/2025 | $86,000 |
| Peraton | Cartographer | McLean, VA | 05/25/2025 | $86,000 |
| Durham County, Nc | GIS Cartographer | Durham, NC | 05/22/2025 | $52,730 |
| Clackamas County, or | GIS Cartographer | Oregon City, OR | 05/21/2025 | $53,395 |
| Darkstar Intelligence | Cartographer-JM | McLean, VA | 05/15/2025 | $130,000 |
| Perspecta | Cartographer | McLean, VA | 04/28/2025 | $86,000 |
| Cameron County | Cartographer | San Benito, TX | 04/28/2025 | $37,678 |
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